舌尖上的美國(63):強烈語氣(中)

使用主動語態，少用被動語態

1a A number of parking spaces are always needed by commuting students.

1b Commuting students always need a number of parking spaces.

2a For energy conservation it is urged that all lights be turned off when not being used.

2b To save energy, students should turn off all lights they are not using.

以上兩組句子中，a句是被動語態，b句是主動語態。被動語態強調狀態，淡化動作的執行者，主動語態使用動作動詞來強調動作，句子意思更直接，表達更有力度。此外，使用主動語態的句子往往比使用被動語態的句子更簡練，而簡練的句子比不簡練的句子給讀者留下的印象要深刻的多，從而達到強調的作用。

使用表達有力的動詞，少用be動詞和have

1a Our college is always the winner of the conference.

1b Our college always wins the conference.

2a The meat has a rotten smell.

2b The meat smells rotten.

以上兩組句子中，a句使用了動詞be和have的相應形式，b句使用了表達有力度的動作動詞win和smell。不難看出，動作動詞往往使一個句子簡練，而簡練的句子能達到強調的效果。

有意識地重複關鍵詞語

1 Usually we cheat to make people think we are better than we are; sometimes we cheat to avoid unpleasant consequences such as paying taxes.

2 Wicked people love wickedly, violent people love violently, weak people love weakly, stupid people love stupidly, but the love of a free man is never safe.

3 No one reads anymore—blame television. Families are breaking up—blame television. High culture is being despoiled—blame television. What a splendid all-purpose explanation television has become.

有意識地重複關鍵詞語能凸顯重點意思，達到強調的效果。這種有意識的詞語重複通常用在平行句中。當然，要慎重重複詞語，經常性的過多重複詞語會造成不必要的重複，會淡化強調作用，從而削弱表達效果。

偶爾使用倒裝句

1 At the feet of the tallest and plushiest offices lie the crummiest slums.

2 Among the students were a few visiting scholars.

3 There might be some truth in his words.

不同於正常語序，倒裝句把重要的信息放在動詞後面，能夠造成懸念，給讀者留下深刻的印象，從而達到強調的效果。不過一定要慎用倒裝句，如果過多地使用倒裝句，則給人一種語言不自然的感覺。

使用平衡句，對比強調異同

1 To be French is to be like no one else; to be American is to be like everyone else.

2 Love is positive; tolerance is negative.

3 Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

平衡句結構對稱，意思相似或相異，對比強烈，會給讀者留下很深的印象，強調語氣濃厚。